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A member of the Baltimore City Council has proposed a ban on automated kiosks that allow people to resell cellphones, tablets and other gadgets. Councilors say such kiosks, or "reverse vending machines," spur device theft, but industry members say the kiosks are being wrongly accused and that operators return stolen cellphones when they are resold.

After a deadly building collapse, the Philadelphia City Council plans to hold a hearing to address demolition issues, including toughening permit qualifications, hiring more inspectors and requiring the presence of an engineer. "After the dust settles, we need to take a serious look at how we do demolition in the city of Philadelphia," Councilman Curtis Jones said. "We want to take a look to see if we have the proper permitting, if we've had the proper level of scrutiny on what the criteria are for demolition."

The Atlantic City, N.J., Planning Board has approved a $12 million expansion for Steel Pier, including a 200-foot Ferris wheel and a boardwalk extension. The Ferris wheel would take guests on a 20-minute ride in 42 fully enclosed gondolas. Steel Pier President Anthony Catanoso says the project is expected to be finished by the first quarter. The proposal must gain City Council approval.

The Clarksville, Tenn., City Council passed a $395.9 million budget for fiscal 2014 about 2:30 a.m. Friday, after a meeting that lasted more than seven hours. While the council moved through the budget's first six ordinances in less than an hour, members got stuck debating the General Government Fund.

The Seattle City Council is considering barring businesses from asking job candidates about their criminal history until later in the application process. The bill would ban businesses from using a check box that indicates whether candidates have been convicted of a crime. Jobs that work with children, the disabled or the elderly, as well as law enforcement positions, would be exempt.